Guard Charged In Fire Suspect Awaiting Other Arson Trial

MIAMI -- A security guard, already awaiting trial on an arson charge, was charged on Tuesday with setting a fire at the Omni International Hotel that forced the evacuation of 300 guests.

Jaime Lozano, 23, was arrested after firefighters recognized him from the earlier investigation, Fire Chief C.H. Duke said. Lozano, who Duke said ``admitted to making the fire,`` was charged with first-degree arson.

Two people suffered minor injuries during the Monday evening fire, which started in a sixth-floor linen closet. Lozano apparently used matches to ignite it, Duke said.

Lozano had been employed by Omni Security for five weeks, Duke said. Monday was the last day of work for Lozano, who submitted his resignation two weeks ago.

Duke said he did not know how Lozano got the Omni job while out on bond for starting another fire.

Lozano had been working as a part-time security guard for the Omni International Mall, located on the first five floors of the hotel complex, said a spokeswoman for the mall management company.

The spokeswoman, Marie Cartwright, would not comment on the screening process used to hire security guards, or Lozano`s reasons for resigning.

Lozano faces first-degree arson charges for a trash-chute fire at the Imperial at Brickell condominiums. The April 20 fire forced the evacuation of the building.

The Omni fire ``was a much larger fire than the first,`` Duke said. ``The progression is dramatic.``

Although the Omni fire was contained to the linen closet, smoke from the blaze covered the sixth floor and spread through the elevator shaft, Duke said.

``As far as fires in high-rises go, we were very fortunate. It could have been like the fire in Puerto Rico,`` he said.

The Miami Fire Department dispatched 18 units and 60 firefighters, Duke said. It took about 45 minutes to bring it under control, he said.